"My name is Shirakumo Kazeta, and I am the officer in charge of this border outpost."
Shirakumo Kazeta looked at Minato and his companions with a curious gaze. While he privately felt that it was far more likely the Sandaime had lost his mind than it was for a child like Minato to be exceptionally powerful, the anti-counterfeiting seals on their official documents were perfect. He had no choice but to follow the established regulations.
"Follow me inside. I will give you a proper tour and explain how we manage the affairs of this outpost."
As they followed Shirakumo Kazeta, it became clear that the outpost was centered around a large wooden tower. The lower floors served as the living quarters for the stationed ninja. After assigning Minato's team to their specific rooms, the commander led them up to the highest floor.
The top floor consisted of a large, circular room where over a dozen trained eagles were perched inside sturdy cages. Circular tables covered in stacks of paper and ink pens lined the perimeter of the room.
"Listen closely, because the daily work here is simple but absolutely vital to the war effort," Shirakumo Kazeta instructed them. "First, we conduct border patrols twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening. Even though your primary responsibility is intelligence transmission, you still need to understand our patrol procedures. I will take you out with us tomorrow morning to show you the ropes."
"Second, we handle the feeding of the Ninja Hawks and the relaying of intelligence. When a Ninja Hawk is sent from the front lines, it arrives here first. We then relay that message back to the Village—"
"If speed is so important, why don't they just fly the birds directly from the front lines back to the Village?" Nawaki interrupted, looking puzzled.
"It is a matter of efficiency. Most of the birds we keep here are peregrine falcons because they are the fastest. While the larger Ninja Hawks have much better endurance, they cannot match the speed of these smaller birds over short distances," Shirakumo Kazeta explained, shaking his head. "Furthermore, training large Ninja Hawks is incredibly expensive. They aren't suited for a remote outpost like this because we can't always guarantee a steady supply of food. Believe it or not, these little guys actually eat better than we do."
"I see. So, in this place, humans are lower on the food chain than eagles," Nawaki muttered, nodding to himself.
"Haha, you could certainly put it that way."
Shirakumo Kazeta pointed to the different cages. "This row is for communication with our front-line strongholds. This middle row is for connecting directly with the Village. The final row is for staying in touch with the western and northern outposts. After a Ninja Hawk delivers its message, it stays here for $24$ hours to rest before it is sent out again."
"There really isn't much to it. For a three-man team like yours, you can easily rotate: one person tends to the birds, one handles the intelligence logs, and one stands guard. It is a manageable workload. I will walk you through the specific paperwork tomorrow."
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Minato said with a polite nod.
Nawaki let out a heavy, disappointed sigh. "Are you serious? We traveled all this way just to become bird keepers?"
Shirakumo Kazeta shook his head. "No, I was only explaining the standard workflow so you would be familiar with how the tower operates. Your specific assignment is different."
Nawaki pointed at a birdcage, confused. "It isn't this?"
"No. The birds here only carry general reports on enemy movements—information that isn't considered highly sensitive," the commander explained. "You three are responsible for the transmission of high-level confidential intelligence, emergency support requests, and secret documents like direct orders from the Hokage. Your job is to shuttle back and forth between the battlefield and the Village at a moment's notice."
"That is exactly why I find this so hard to believe. Missions of that nature are usually led by a Jonin and at least three Chunin."
"The reasoning is related to the specific Ninjutsu that I cultivate. My tactical mobility is extremely high," Minato explained simply. He was young, and he saw no point in trying to hide his capabilities or 'play the fool' when faced with the genuine doubts of his allies. A single, honest sentence could save everyone a lot of unnecessary trouble.
"I see. If that is the case, it makes sense why the Hokage-sama chose to send you here."
Shirakumo Kazeta finally understood. He was professional enough not to pry into the specifics of another ninja's techniques, as Ninjutsu details are often life-or-death secrets. "You have been on the road all day. Take the night to rest."
"Is there a formal watch rotation for the night?" Minato asked.
Shirakumo Kazeta smiled. "Of course. This is a border outpost; we never leave the perimeter unguarded."
Minato nodded, and the three of them returned to their assigned quarters. The room was not particularly spacious, but it was clean and fully furnished with the necessities.
"So, is Sister Mikoto really going to stay in the same room as us?" Nawaki asked as they walked in.
"We are on a military mission. Having a roof over our heads and actual beds is more than enough; I don't need a separate room," Mikoto replied easily. As an experienced Chunin, this was hardly her first time in the field. She had survived missions in much harsher environments where she couldn't shower for days and smelled like sweat and dirt. Sleeping in a room with teammates was a luxury by comparison.
Nawaki was exhausted from the journey and fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow. Mikoto felt the weight of the day as well, but she noticed Minato leaning by the window, staring out into the darkness.
"Minato-kun, aren't you going to get some sleep?"
"This is my first time actually leaving the Village for a long-term assignment, so I am a bit too restless to sleep just yet. You go ahead. Since we are at the border, I'll stay up and keep watch for a while."
Minato shook his head. His natural energy reserves were immense; he could easily go for three to five days without sleep without any drop in his performance. Besides, since he hadn't used a Wood Clone for today's travel, he didn't have the mental fatigue that usually came with synchronizing memories.
"I felt the same way the first time I went outside the walls," Mikoto said with a soft smile. "It's a mix of excitement, unease, and feeling a little bit lost. If you're going to keep watch, please wake me up so I can take over before you go to sleep."
"That won't be necessary," Minato replied. "A Wood Clone does not synchronize fatigue or memories until it is manually dispelled. From now on, I will have a clone handle the night watch while we all rest."
"Is that so—"
Mikoto paused, then laughed quietly. "Having a teammate like you is incredibly reliable, Minato-kun. I don't have to worry about the food, and I don't even have to worry about the night watch."
"I suppose I am becoming quite the versatile tool," Minato teased. "I originally told the Sandaime that I planned to go on these missions alone, but he wouldn't hear of it."
"I think the Sandaime was right to refuse you," Mikoto said seriously. "At the very least, I want to become a companion you can rely on, rather than someone who just slows you down. I am sure Nawaki feels the same way. I would rather be used as a shield in a moment of crisis than do absolutely nothing while you handle everything."
"Wouldn't that be defeating the purpose?"
Minato laughed softly. "The reason I want to be strong is so that I can protect the people who are important to me. You could call it the arrogance of a genius if you like. Regardless of how you feel about it, I won't change my mind—not unless you can match the strength of someone like Tsunade-sensei."
"————So even someone like Tsunade-senpai is under your protection? You really are arrogant."
Mikoto smiled, though she felt a bit helpless. "But don't you think you are being a bit too... comprehensive with your care?"
"No," Minato said, his voice turning cold and firm. "I would much rather nip a threat in the bud than live with the regret of losing someone. However, I won't stop you from growing. As long as you don't wander off alone or walk blindly into a trap, I have the power to cover any mistake you make."
"I understand—"
Mikoto gave him a gentle, appreciative smile. She didn't find his attitude overbearing. In fact, knowing he offered such total protection without actually restricting her actions made her feel incredibly safe. "I get the feeling that you are the type of person who would blame himself forever if any of your friends got hurt."
"No. As long as they are still breathing, it is fine."
Minato paused for a moment before continuing slowly. "Even if someone is on the brink of death, I can save them. But if they actually die—"
"If they die, then there is nothing anyone can do, right?"
"Then a heavy price must be paid."
"?"
Mikoto froze, her heart skipping a beat. Did he just imply that he could bring back the dead? Had Konoha's medical ninjutsu really advanced to such a terrifying level?
Despite the sheer absurdity of the claim, she found herself believing him. In all their time together, Minato had always been grounded and honest; he wasn't someone who would make such a grand boast for no reason. She didn't ask for details, assuming such a power must be a kinjutsu that required a massive sacrifice.
"Don't worry. I will make sure you are protected."
Seeing the shock on her face, Minato gave a small, soft chuckle. The moonlight streaming through the window cast a silver glow over him, making him look almost ethereal. For a moment, Mikoto felt her heart flutter.
"You really are... very reliable."
She suddenly remembered their conversation from dinner and couldn't stop herself from asking, "Minato-kun, is Kushina the only girl you like?"
Minato was caught off guard by the sudden personal question and remained silent for a moment. Before he could find the right words, Mikoto smiled quickly. "I'm sorry, that was very presumptuous of me."
She immediately turned around and pulled her blanket up, ending the conversation. Minato's silence had already given her the answer she expected. Her heart was racing and her cheeks felt hot against the pillow.
Besides Kushina, who else would he even look at? While she had a tiny spark of hope deep down, she wasn't so vain as to think he had fallen for her in such a short time. She figured, as Nawaki had suggested, that he probably liked their mutual friend—Yakushi Nonou.
Liking two people at the same time... what a fickle boy! Mikoto complained to herself. She couldn't help but wonder how he would ever choose between them, or if someone with his power would even bother choosing just one.
Eventually, Mikoto drifted off into a deep sleep. She dreamed of a version of Minato who was $18$ years old—tall, handsome, and incredibly powerful. In the dream, she felt her feelings for him growing into something she couldn't hide.
The scene shifted, and she saw him walking with Kushina on one arm and another girl on the other, looking perfectly happy with two wives. Mikoto felt a wave of embarrassment and tried to turn away, apologizing for interrupting them.
But the Minato in her dream just smiled gently and said, "No, Mikoto. You arrived at the perfect time!"
Suddenly, the dream shifted again, and they were all in a hot spring together.
"We've been waiting for you, Mikoto~" Kushina laughed, pushing Mikoto toward Minato. "Tonight is our family's private hot spring night! Don't you love this?"
"Wait, what?" Mikoto panicked, her heart hammering against her ribs. "No—this isn't right! I—"
She sat bolt upright, eyes snapping open. The sun was streaming through the window. It was just a dream. A very, very embarrassing dream. Mikoto sat there blankly, her face burning with a deep blush, unsure if she felt relieved or strangely disappointed that it was over.
A soft, calm voice spoke from right beside her. "Are you awake?"
"Ah!"
Mikoto jumped, using a Body Flicker to instantly retreat into the corner of the room like a startled cat. She stared nervously at Minato, who was leaning against the headboard of his bed reading a scroll. He looked at her with a confused expression.
"Are you alright?"
"Uh—yes. Sorry. I just had a really bad nightmare," Mikoto stammered, glancing over at Nawaki, who was still snoring loudly. "What time is it?"
"It is $5:00$ AM."
Minato tucked the scroll away. "It's still quite early. Do you want to try and get some more sleep?"
"No! No, I'm fine!" Mikoto shook her head vigorously, terrified that the dream might pick up right where it left off if she closed her eyes again. Minato thought her behavior was odd, but he didn't push for answers.
After a quick breakfast, the trio joined Shirakumo Kazeta's squad for their morning patrol along the border. They checked the various traps and perimeter sensors before heading back toward the tower.
Nawaki looked bored. Like any young ninja, he was itching for a chance to prove himself in combat and earn some real merits. However, the situation in the Land of Rain was like a powder keg. While Hanzou was bold enough to challenge both Konoha and Sunagakure, he wasn't foolish enough to invade the Land of Fire directly before the official declaration of war.
Back at the tower, they spent some time learning the proper way to handle and feed the Ninja Hawks. Nawaki sighed as they walked back to their room. "I don't get it. Why did the Sandaime send us here if there's nothing for us to do? Does he really expect us to just sit around and wait?"
"That is the nature of border duty," Minato said. He suddenly paused and looked out the window. A Ninja Hawk was screaming toward the outpost at a breakneck speed. "But I don't think we will have to wait much longer."
"Emergency intelligence!"
Urgent footsteps thundered on the floor above. A duty ninja shouted at the top of his lungs. "Sunagakure has ignored Hanzou's warnings! They've launched a massive surprise attack through the Land of Rain! Our front-line strongholds are requesting immediate reinforcements!"
"Minato!!"
Nawaki roared, jumping off his bed with a burst of pure adrenaline. He looked ready to explode.
"Get ready to move," Minato said firmly, his eyes cold and focused as he walked out the door. He didn't mind slacking off when things were quiet, but he wouldn't do so now. The Sandaime had sent him here specifically because his speed could provide an insurmountable intelligence advantage.
They reached the command room, where Shirakumo Kazeta was looking grim. "Minato-kun, the situation is dire."
"Send the intelligence back to the village first," Minato commanded.
"I have already released our fastest peregrine falcon to carry the report—"
"The birds are too slow," Minato interrupted, shaking his head. "Give me $120$ seconds."
Before the commander could respond, Minato vanished in a flash of gold. Two breaths later, he was standing in the center of Konoha. He sprinted toward the Hokage Building. The Anbu guards, who had likely been warned about his abilities, didn't even try to slow him down as he burst into the Hokage's Office.
"Sandaime-sama, urgent report: Sunagakure has launched a large-scale surprise invasion through the Land of Rain. Our front lines are under heavy fire and are requesting immediate support."
Hiruzen's reaction was instantaneous. "I understand. Minato, take your team and unite with Shirakumo Kazeta's squad. Move to the front lines immediately. Tell Sakumo Hatake that reinforcements are on the way! You must hold that line; do not let the enemy push the battle into our territory!"
Hiruzen quickly drafted two official scrolls, applied his personal seal, and handed them over. Minato grabbed the documents and, in the blink of an eye, reappeared right next to Nawaki back at the outpost.
Shirakumo Kazeta looked like he had seen a ghost. "What—how did you—?"
"Space-Time Ninjutsu," Minato said, handing him the orders. "The Sandaime's orders are clear: our teams are to reinforce the front lines immediately. These are our instructions."
Shirakumo Kazeta stared at him in utter silence. Did this kid really just travel to Konoha and back in less than two minutes?
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